Shoe bottom construction



March 21, 1939. M. E. DUCKOFF 7 ,0

SHOE BOTTOM CONSTRUCT ION Filed July 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 21, 1939. DUCKQFF 2,151,018

SHOE BOTTOM CONSTRUCTION Filed July 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet ,2

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE. BOTTOM CONSTRUCTION Application July 9, 1937, Serial No. 152,769

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe bottom construction and is herein illustrated with particular reference to the construction of socalled shoe bottom or insole units of the type comprising an insole, a metallic shank stiffener, and a reinforcing piece of fiber or other relatively stiff and inexpensive material which is substantially coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole. The invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of shoes the outsoles of which are to be attached by means of cement, although many advantages result from the use of the invention in shoes of various other types.

One object of the invention is to effect substantial economies in the manufacture of shoes having reinforced insole units of the general type above referred to.

With the above object in view the present invention provides a reinforced insole unit of novel construction comprising an insole, a reinforcing piece substantially coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole secured to the lower side of the latter, and a shank stiffener having a body portion underlying the shank portion of the reinforcing piece. The illustrated reinforcing piece is formed with a depression in the upper surface of its heel portion and has a slit or opening affording access to the depression from the lower side of the reinforcing piece, this construction providing a pocket for receiving the rear portion of the shank stiffener which extends through the opening and fits within and sub stantially fills the depression. As shown, a protuberance is formed upon the lower side of the heel portion of the reinforcing piece for partially filling the space between the overlasted upper margins in the heel seat portion of a shoe bottom and supporting the reinforcing piece so that it will not tend to collapse under the pressure of the foot during the Wearing of a shoe in which the insole unit is incorporated. Preferably, the shank stiffener has the customary longitudinal curvature and its rear portion is offset upwardly to enable it to be introduced into and to fit within the pocket without distorting the reinforcing piece or forming any undesirable humps or ridges therein or in the insole. The offset rear portion of the illustrated shank stiffener is connected with the body of the stiffener by an abruptly bent portion disposed at a substantial angle to the body of the stiffener so as to provide shoulders for engagement with the opposite edges of the slit in the heel portion of the reinforcing piece to locate the shank stiffener lengthwise and hold it against endwise displacement. Preferably the shank portion of the reinforcing piece is also slitted to form therein an integral straplike member or bridge piece adapted to overlie the forward portion of the shank stiffener so as to position the latter transversely and hold it in place. Such an insole unit may be economically manufactured inasmuch as the insole and the reinforcing piece may be secured together, as by means of wire staples, While the members are in a flat condition and the shank stiffener may be assembled with the aforesaid members, located relatively thereto both lengthwise and transversely without the use of special gaging devices, and held in place thereon without separate fastenings such as tacks or the like. As herein shown, the stiffener receiving pocket and the bridge piece are so disposed as to locate the shank stiffener in a transversely central position upon the reinforcing piece so that the marginal surfaces of the latter at both sides of the shank stiffener will be of sufficient width to insure the establishment of an adequate cement bond between the upper and the reinforcing piece. Moreover, it is unnecessary to mold the insole since the desired longitudinal curvature will be imparted to it and to the reinforcing piece by the act of assembling the longitudinally curved shank stiffener therewith.

Invention is also to be recognized as residing in a shoe bottom reinforcing piece embodying certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my improved heel and shank reinforcing piece;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the reinforcing piece showing the lower side of the latter;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the metallic shank stiffener strip;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the reinforced insole unit showing its lower side;

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views taken along the lines VI--VI and VII-VII, respectively, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a partially completed shoe having my improved heel and shank reinforcing piece embodied therein;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a reinforced insole unit illustrating an alternative method of securing the forward portion of the shank stiffener in place; and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings, my improved insole unit comprises an insole l6, a reinforcing piece I8 for the heel and shank portions of the insole, and a shank stiffener 20. The insole I6 may be composed of leather or any suitable leather substitute material and it may be rounded or died out in the usual manner. The heel and shank reinforcing piece l8 may be made of fiberboard or other relatively stiff and inexpensive material and died out or otherwise cut to conform in marginal contour substantially to that of the heel and shank portions of the insole. As shown, the reinforcing piece 18 is beveled to a thin edge 22 at its forward extremity so that no undesirable abrupt shoulder will be present between it and the insole in this locality. The reinforcing piece l8 may advantageously be secured to the lower side of the insole while both of these parts are in a flat condition and any suitable means may be employed for securing the parts together such, for example, as wire staples 24, although cement may be employed either with or without other fastening means. If staples are used as fastenings they may be inserted from the lower side of the reinforcing piece and their points may be clenched against the upper surface of the insole, the staples being located, for example, in the positions indicated in Fig. 5. The shank stiffener 20 consists of a narrow strip of metal and is curved longitudinally to conform to the longitudinal curvature of the corresponding portion of a last bottom.

In order that the shank stiffener 20 may be secured in place at the lower side of the reinforcing piece l8 without the use of fastening devices, such as tacks, staples or the like, the reinforcing piece is shaped so as to form, in conjunction with the insole, a pocket 26 (Fig. 8) for receiving the rear portion of the shank stiffener and, as herein illustrated, the rear portion of the shank stiffener is offset upwardly relatively to the adjacent portion thereof, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 4, to facilitate the insertion of the shank stiffener into the pocket without resulting distorting of the portions of the reinforcing piece and the insole which are located just forwardly of the pocket.

To provide for the formation of the pocket 26 in the insole unit a depression 30 (Fig. 1) is molded or otherwise formed in the upper surface of the heel portion of the reinforcing piece before the latter is attached to the insole, and a straight transverse slit or aperture 32 is cut through the reinforcing piece at the front end of the depression 30 thereby affording access to the depression from the lower side of the reinforcing piece so that when the reinforcing piece has been attached to the insole the slit 32 will constitute an opening through which the shank stiffener may be introduced into the pocket. The depression 30 is preferably of such a depth and of such a marginal shape that the offset portion 28 of the shank stiffener will fit in the pocket with the upper surface of the stiffener substantially flush with the upper surface of the reinforcing piece and thus will have no tendency to form a ridge in the insole. As shown, the molding of the depression 30 results in the formation of a protuberance 3| in the lower side of the reinforcing piece which helps to fill in the space within the overlasted upper margin in the heel seat portion of the shoe bottom.

In order to enable the forward portion of the shank stiffener to be attached to the reinforcing piece without the use of a fastening device such as a tack or a staple, two straight parallel transverse slits 34 and 36 are made in closely spaced relation in the forward portion of the reinforcing piece and the material between the slits is molded or otherwise struck up so as to form a strap-like member or bridge piece 38 that is integral with the reinforcing piece and is adapted to overlie the forward portion of the shank stiffener. After the reinforcing piece has been attached to the insole the shank stiffener may be assembled with the reinforcing piece by threading the offset rear portion 28 of the stiffener beneath the bridge piece 38, pushing the stiffener rearwardly and finally passing its rear portion through the slit 32 and seating it within the pocket 26. As shown, the offset rear portion 28 of the shank stiffener is connected with the rest of the stiffener by an abruptly bent portion 40 which provides substantially perpendicular shoulders at its opposite sides which, by engagement with the opposite edges of the slit or aperture 32, serve to position the shank stiffener longitudinally with respect to the insole. The location of the slit 32 in the reinforcing piece and the shape and length of the shank stiffener are such that when the stiffener is finally positioned with its bent or shouldered portion 40 engaging the edges of the slit 32 the forward portion of the stiffener will occupy its desired relation relatively to the break line of the insole. Moreover, the portion 40 of the stiffener, inasmuch as it extends through the slit 32 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the reinforcing piece, will function effectively to prevent creeping or endwise displacement of the stiffener in the shoe. The shank stiffener will impart to the shank portion of the reinforcing piece and the insole a longitudinal curvature corresponding to that of the stiffener so that it will be unnecessary to subject the insole or the reinforcing piece to any molding operation. for the purpose of imparting the desired longitudinal curvature to those parts. Furthermore, the shank stiffener will be held in place by means of the pocket 26 and the bridge piece 38 so that it will not become displaced laterally but will be maintained in a transversely central position upon the reinforcing piece where it will not interfere with the securing of a satisfactory cement bond between the reinforcing piece and the lasting allowance of the upper.

It is practicable, and in some instances it may be desirable, to assemble the shank stiffener 20 and the reinforcing piece l8 before attaching the reinforcing piece to the insole. On the other hand it may be desirable, as illustrated in Fig. 9, first to attach the reinforcing piece to the insole and, after placing the insole and the reinforcing piece upon a last, to work an upper over the last and secure the margins of the upper in overlasted position upon the insole and the reinforcing piece before applying the shank stiffener to the reinforcing piece. This practice may be found advantageous for the purpose of insuring against any interference with the lasting operation by the shank stiffener. After the lasting operation has been completed and the surplus lasting allowance trimmed away if necessary, the shank stiffener may be assembled with the insole by thrusting it rearwardly through the slits 34 and 36 and beneath the bridge piece 38 and introducing its rear portion into the pocket 26.

Alternatively, a reinforcing piece I80 (Fig. 10) may be made without the slits 34, 36 and the bridge piece 3% in which case a fastening device, such as the wire staple 52, may be employed for securing the forward portion of the shank stiffener in place. Advantageously, as indicated in Fig. 11, the legs of the staple are driven through both the reinforcing piece and the insole and their points clenched against the upper or inner surface of the insole, as by means of a metal plate upon the last bottom or a metal insert or plug therein. Thus, the staple 52 will serve also as means for securely attaching the forward portion of the reinforcing piece to the insole and will render unnecessary the employment of more than a single staple or other fastening device, such as the staple dd, for initially securing these parts together.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A reinforced insole unit comprising an in sole, a reinforcing piece substantially coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole secured to the lower side of the latter, and a shank stiffener underlying the shank portion of said reinforcing piece, said reinforcing piece having a depression in the upper surface of its heel portion and hav ng an opening affording access to said depression. from the lower side of said piece, and said shank stifiener extending through said opening and having a rear portion fitting within and substantially filling said depression.

2. A reinforced insole unit comprising an insole, a reinforcing piece coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole and secured to the lower side of the latter, said reinforcing piece having a depression formed in the upper side of its heel portion and an aperture opening into said depression from the lower side of said piece, and a shank stiffener having a longitudinally curved portion underlying the shank portion of said reinforcing piece, said shank stiifener having also an upwardly ofiset portion extending through said opening, and a substantially flat rear portion received within said depression.

3. A reinforced insole unit comprising an insole, a heel and shank reinforcing piece secured to the lower side of said insole and having a depressed port-ion cooperating with the heel portion of the insole to form a shank stiffener receiving pocket, said reinforcing piece having also an opening extending therethrcugh and affording an entrance into said pocket, and a shank stiffener located throughout the greater portion of its length at the lower side of said reinforcing piece and having an upturned portion extending through said opening and a rear portion located within said pocket.

4. A reinforced insole unit comprising an insole, a heel and shank reinforcing piece secured to the lower side of the latter, said reinforcing piece having an opening in its heel portion and a shank stiffener having a longitudinally curved portion underlying the shank portion of said reinforcing piece, and a rear portion extending through said opening and between the reinforcing piece and the insole, and means integral with said reinforcing piece for anchoring the forward portion of the shank stiffener thereto.

5. A reinforced insole unit comprising an insole, a reinforcing piece coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole and secured to the lower side of the latter, said reinforcing piece having an opening in its heel portion, and a shank stiffener having a longitudinally curved portion underlying the shank portion of said reinforcing piece and having a rear portion extending through said opening, and means carried by said reinforcing piece and bridging the forward portion of said shank stiffener for securing the latter in place.

6. A reinforced insole unit comprising an insole, a shank stiffener, and a reinforcing piece coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole and secured to the lower side of the latter, said reinforcing piece having a pocket in its heel portion receiving the rear portion of said shank stiffener and having in its shank portion two closely adjacent transverse slits arranged toform between them a strap-like portion integral with the rest of the reinforcing piece and bridging said shank stiffener to hold the shank stiffener in place relatively to said reinforcing piece.

'7. A shank stiffener unit comprising a heel and shank reinforcing piece having a transverse slit in its heel portion and two closely adjacent transverse slits in its forward portion, and a longitudinally curved shank stiffener having its forward portion extending through said closely adjacent slits and a rear portion extending through the slit in the heel portion of the reinforcing piece.

8. A reinforcing insole unit comprisin an insole, a reinforcing secured to the lower side of the heel and shank portions of said insole, said piece having a depression formed in the upper side of its heel portion providing a pocket between the reinforcing pi ce and the insole and said reinforcing piece having a slit extending therethrough and arranged to afford an entrance into said pocket from the lower side of the reinforcing piece, and a shank stiffener located throughout the greater portion of its length at the lower side of said reinforcing piece, said shank stiffener having a rear portion located within said pocket and a shouldered portion extending through said slit and engaging the opposite edges thereof to maintain the stiffener in a desired lengthwise relation to the reinforcing piece and the insole.

9. A heel and shank reinforcing piece corresponding substantially in marginal contour to that of the heel and shank portions of an insole and having formed in the upper side of its heel portion a depression for receiving the rear portion of a shank stiffener and upon the lower side of its heel portion a corresponding protuberance for partially filling the space between the overlasted upper margins in the heel seat portion of a shoe bottom, said reinforcing piece having an opem'ng extending from said depression to the lower side of said piece through which a shank stifiener may be passed in the act of introducing its rear portion into said depression.

MAXWELL E. DUCKOFF. 

